What do Army Rangers, a dedication to helping global post-conflict areas and flip-flops have in common? Together, they create innovation in Issaquah.

The Issaquah Chamber of Commerce honored Combat Flip Flops last month as one of three Innovation in Issaquah award winners. The award marked another milestone in the interesting business’ trajectory, which began in the mountains of Afghanistan.

By Greg FarrarMatt ‘Griff’ Griffin, CEO of Combat Flip Flops, poses in his Issaquah workroom with a sarong hand-embroidered by a woman-owned business in Afghanistan, along with the very first finished pair of sandals he produced in February 2013.

“We fought in a different war,” company co-founder Matthew Griffin, casually known as “Griff,” said in his Issaquah garage, which served as the manufacturing facility for the first 4,000 pairs of flip-flops. “We had to run guys down in the most adverse conditions. But it was a really giving culture and we never forgot it.”